Country:  Jan Mayen
(territory of Norway)
- Geography
Total area: 373 km2; land area: 373 km2
 
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
 
Land boundaries: none
 
Coastline: 124.1 km
 
Maritime claims:
 
Contiguous zone: 10 nm;
 
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
 
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
 
Territorial sea: 4 nm
 
Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims beween
Greenland and Jan Mayen
 
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
 
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the
highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters
 
Natural resources: none
 
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
 
Environment: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970
 
Note: located 590 km north-northwest of Iceland between
the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea north of the Arctic Circle
 
- People
Population: no permanent inhabitants
 
- Government
Long-form name: none
 
Type: territory of Norway
 
Note: administered by a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen
(Svalbard)
 
- Economy
Overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable
natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services
for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on
the island.
 
Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced,
NA kWh per capita (1989)
 
- Communications
Airports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m
 
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
 
Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway